The California Transportation Commission (CTC) yesterday allocated $463 million to 87 transportation projects statewide. The money awarded includes $346 million from Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond championed by Governor Schwarzenegger and approved by voters in 2006, and $3.3 million from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

“This investment will not only help ease traffic congestion and make our highways and bridges safer, but create jobs for hard working Californians and help stimulate local economies throughout the state,” said Governor Schwarzenegger in a press release from the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

More than $5.2 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated to improve California’s transportation system during the past three years. Highlights of today’s Proposition 1B project allocations include the following:

Alameda County - $54.4 million for the Warm Springs Extension Project, which will improve Bay Area Regional Transit service in southern Alameda County by adding 5.4 miles of new tracks from the existing Fremont Station south to a new station in the Warm Springs district in Fremont.

San Bernardino County - $23.1 million to fund a project that will widen existing exit ramps and construct auxiliary lanes on Interstate 10 at Cherry Avenue, Citrus Avenue and Cedar Avenue.

Sacramento Region - $65.1 million to widen State Route 99 in Sutter County and construct an additional bridge above the Feather River.

San Diego County - $4.0 million to install ramp metering and carpool ramp lanes at four locations on Interstate 5 from Birmingham Drive in Encinitas to Vandegrift Boulevard in Oceanside.

Santa Clara County – $30 million for a project that will reduce traffic congestion on U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Clara County, a major commute route from southern Santa Clara County and San Benito County to employment centers in Silicon Valley. The project will add one new lane on U.S. 101 from Story Road to Capitol Expressway in Santa Clara County and replace the existing Tully Road overcrossing.

Fresno - $24.5 million for the Island Park 6-Lane Project on State Route 99 in Fresno. This project will add one new lane in each direction on SR-99 from Ashlan Avenue to Herndon Avenue in Fresno.

“As the voters intended, Proposition 1B is paying for vital transportation projects that relieve traffic congestion, improve air quality, and provide a shot in the arm to California’s economy,” said Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki in a written statement.